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“White Boy Rick” visits Wayne Releaf

By Sarah Shurge will be donated to help get the release of wrong-
Picture this: you visit a cannabis dispensary. fully or excessively imprisoned drug offenders.
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan In May 2020, Wayne Releaf opened in Wayne at
in 2018, so you think nothing of it. Now picture what was formerly known as the Wayne Bowl.
this instead: you’ve spent 32 years in prison for a “A bowling alley was the perfect place for it,”
drug offense, you are the longest-serving nonvio- said Kim Russo, Owner of Wayne Releaf. “The
lent-offender in Michigan history, you finally get front half is a dispensary, and the back half is for
released from prison and visit a cannabis dispen- grow and processing. We’re still in the process of
sary. getting that finished. The plans have been submit-
The latter might cause you to stop and think, ted to the city. We’re just waiting to hear back.”
but there’s a lot more to the story than just that. Wayne Releaf’s showroom is 7,000-square-feet
On Saturday, February 19th, Richard Wershe and carries over 300 different medical marijuana
Jr. visited Wayne Releaf Provisioning & Cultivation products and over 30 flower strains to choose
Center. Some of you may not know the story of from.
Rick Wershe, known as “White Boy Rick,” or why At the end of December 2021/beginning of Jan-
he would be visiting Wayne Releaf. To understand uary 2022, Wayne Releaf launched Wershe’s
why, you need to take a trip back in time. cannabis brand “The 8th.”
In the 1980s, at the age of 14, Wershe became Each month, Wayne Releaf has Vendor Days,
the youngest Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where vendors can come to the dispensary for a
informant. When Wershe was 16, the FBI, after few hours and promote their products. It’s a time
having secured 20 convictions through his infiltra- for vendors to spotlight their product, so generally,
tion of a violent drug gang, ceased to employ him they have a table with their product on display,
as an informant. In 1987, at the age of 17, Wershe they explain their product, possibly discount their
was arrested for possession of 8 kilograms (18 product for that day, and give out free merchan-
pounds) of cocaine and was sentenced to life in dise.
prison under Michigan’s 650-lifer law. Wayne Releaf normally has about 10 vendors
The law mandated an automatic life sentence come a month. After launching The 8th, Wayne Re-
without parole for carrying at least 650 grams of leaf management asked Wershe to visit for a Ven-
cocaine. By 1998, the law was rolled back and dor Day.
more than 220 convicts were released. All except February 19th, Wershe visited Wayne Releaf to
Wershe. promote his product.
On March 31st, 2017, White Boy, a documen- “I think it's an amazing facility. The transforma-
tary detailing the case of Richard Wershe pre- tion that they’ve taken this place from an old bowl-
miered at the Freep Film Festival and was picked ing alley to what it is now. The things they’re doing
up by Netflix in April 2021. in this community. It’s an amazing facility, I’ll be
Publicity about the case in 2017 led to Wershe back. I love this place and I hope everybody in the
being paroled, but directly to a prison in Florida Rick Wershe, known as “White Boy Rick.” community supports them,” said Wershe.
to serve another five years for an auto theft con- There was a great turnout for his visit.
viction from 2008 (crime committed behind bars). those responsible for imprisoning him of child “People were happy to see him. People are hum-
In 2019, his application was denied by the Florida abuse. The lawsuit claims Wershe was pressured bled by his story and have bought a lot of his prod-
clemency board. into assisting police while he was an unsuspecting uct,” said Russo. “Some people cried when they
On September 14th, 2018, White Boy Rick, a teen. saw him because they were so happy for him. I
film based on Wershe’s life was released. The film In November 2021, Wershe partnered with saw women with tears in their eyes.”
stars Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughey, Jen- Michigan-based company Pleasantrees, and The crowd welcomed Wershe, and Wershe did
nifer Jason Leigh, and more. launched a cannabis brand called “The 8th.” The more than just promote his product that day.
On July 20th, 2020, Wershe was released from brand’s name references the 8th Amendment in “He let people take pictures with him and he
custody in Florida, having completed his sentence the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the govern- spoke to everyone. He was an amazing vendor that
with credits for good behavior. ment from imposing excessive bail, fines, or cruel really took to his customers and gave them 100
One year after his prison release, in July 2021, and unusual punishments. percent,” said Russo.
Wershe sued the FBI and Detroit police; accusing A press release stated that a portion of sales Talking to customers is an important standard
for Wayne Refleaf.
“We see over 500-600 average people on a nor-
mal day. We welcome everyone. Our staff is very
friendly. We pride ourselves on being so friendly,”
said Russo.
Wayne Releaf is located at 36900 Michigan Ave.
It is open Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. and 9
a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sundays. For more information
about Wayne Releaf, you can contact them by
email at info@waynereleaf.com, phone at
(734)600-0420, or visit their website at waynere-
Richard Wershe Jr. with the Wayne Releaf Provisioning & Cultivation Center staff. leaf.com.
The Wayne Dispatch · March 2022 · 11